The world of Spaghetti Westerns is rife with as much confusion off-screen as on, particularly when it comes to film titles. Just as converting a sum like 20,000 euros to dollars requires careful attention to fluctuating exchange rates, deciphering the Italian titles of director Zabalza’s 1970 westerns demands a close look beyond readily available, and often inaccurate, sources. The issue is compounded by the likely fabricated co-production claims surrounding these films.
According to prominent databases such as IMDb and the Spaghetti Western Database (SWDB), Zabalza’s films Plomo sobre Dallas, Los rebeldes de Arizona, and 20,000 dólares por un cadáver are linked to the Italian titles Prendi la Colt e prega il padre tuo, Adios Cjamango, and Ehi! Gringo… scendi dalla croce, respectively. However, film expert Marco Giusti proposes a different, though partially incorrect, view, suggesting that Adios Cjamango and Ehi! Gringo… scendi dalla croce are alternate titles for the same film, Los rebeldes de Arizona. This discrepancy even led Giusti to mistakenly speculate in his “Dizionario del Western all’italiana” that the obscure title *Sartana, la sua Colt e Dio* might refer to 20,000 dólares por un cadáver*.
Evidence from original lobby cards offers a compelling counter-narrative. Lobby card imagery strongly suggests that Prendi la Colt e prega il padre tuo (Take the Colt and pray to your Father) is actually the Italian title for 20,000 dólares por un cadaver, not Plomo sobre Dallas as widely documented.
Further complicating matters, actors Carlos Quiney and Claudia Gravy are not credited in 20,000 dólares por un cadáver. This absence suggests that Ehi! Gringo… scendi dalla croce (Hey! Gringo… get down from the cross) is more likely the Italian title for Plomo sobre Dallas.
In conclusion, untangling the web of Italian titles for these Zabalza westerns reveals inconsistencies in even reputable film sources. By examining lobby cards and actor listings, we can begin to correct these inaccuracies, bringing clarity to the often-murky area of Spaghetti Western film titles, a task perhaps as intricate as accurately converting 20,000 euros to dollars in a volatile market.
* Sartana la sua Colt e Dio Actors: W. Cooper, C. Rodgers, H. Goldman (?) Director: A. Cummings (?) This title likely belongs to a Mexican or Spanish production released in Italy around 1969, and the search for its original title remains open.
